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The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon
With never-before-seen development art, character sketches, storyboards, and color scripts, The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon gives fans a front-row view of the making of the Disney animated feature.
• Art book from Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon
• Features colorful concept art from the all-original fantasy adventure
• Includes fascinating facts and details from the creators
It's an exclusive look inside the studio as Disney's talented team of artists develop characters and create the Raya and the Last Dragon universe, inspired by the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia.
In Raya and the Last Dragon, a lone warrior from the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra teams up with a crew of misfits to find the last dragon and bring light and hope back to their broken world.
The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon is part of the acclaimed ART OF series, inviting audiences behind-the-scenes of their favorite animated films.
This book is perfect for:
• Disney fans and art buffs
• Animators and students of animation
• Fans of The Art of Frozen 2 and The Art of Moana
• Art book from Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon
• Features colorful concept art from the all-original fantasy adventure
• Includes fascinating facts and details from the creators
It's an exclusive look inside the studio as Disney's talented team of artists develop characters and create the Raya and the Last Dragon universe, inspired by the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia.
In Raya and the Last Dragon, a lone warrior from the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra teams up with a crew of misfits to find the last dragon and bring light and hope back to their broken world.
The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon is part of the acclaimed ART OF series, inviting audiences behind-the-scenes of their favorite animated films.
This book is perfect for:
• Disney fans and art buffs
• Animators and students of animation
• Fans of The Art of Frozen 2 and The Art of Moana
- GenresArtNonfiction
160 pages, Hardcover
First published March 16, 2021
10 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 21, 2021
Gorgeous book and great insight on the making and developing of this movie. So much love and research was put in it and it shows.
March 14, 2021
I really liked this art book! Not only did it have a bunch of great images, but it really laid out each tribe in Kumandra, its city, and what the population’s daily life was like. https://www.wdw-magazine.com/explore-...
March 28, 2021
This is my 2nd favorite Art book of all time! Omgosh the DETAILS in this work is AMAZING! The scenery and thought behind each aspect in the world of Kumandra is so much more complex than I realized when I watched the movie. I couldn't help admiring the beauty of the movie Ray and the Last Dragon as I watched it and I KNEW I had to get my hands on this book, and I'm SO glad I did! There was just so much art and creativity into each land and aspect of the story and characters it just baffles me. I couldn't put the book down and I just cant get enough. I'm going to have to rewatch the movie now to now watch with newfound appreciation for details and artwork I saw within these pages.
May 25, 2021
The latest ‘art of’ book in the visually enthralling Disney series is perhaps even more impressive than the books before it.
With a more detailed contents guide than those in the series that I have reviewed in the past, The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon by Kalikolehua Hurley and Osnat Shurer, published by Chronicle Books, takes an especially deep dive into the background, characters, themes, worldbuilding and animation savvy behind the Walt Disney Animation Studio’s latest large-scale animation masterpiece.
Challenges and triumphs
I find it particularly engaging, as I did in this book, when the master creators at Disney talk about the challenges they faced and how they worked to overcome them. It is interesting to learn how sometimes those challenges add depth and dimension that may not have otherwise been discovered:
“Raya is, and has always been, a warrior. ‘Raya was forced to leave her home early in the story,” muses director Carlos Lopez Estrada, ‘and had to learn to raise herself in order to survive.’ But warrior characters can be hard to relate to,’ director Don Hall continues, ‘so we had to balance Raya’s tough exterior with many rich layers of personality.’”
Rich cultural inspiration at every turn
The book also explores the rich cultural inspiration behind the setting, story, costume and characters. For example, Sisu is said to be inspired by the naga which are powerful, mythical beings of Southeast Asia that are usually associated with bodies of water. The Talon lands – the trading crossroads of the five lands in the story (Heart, Tail, Spine, Fang and Talon) – are filled with stalls containing fresh produce and fantastical items, similar to those found throughout Southeast Asia, as are homes and businesses adorned with flowers, fruits and other offerings in the hope that spirits will congregate there and provide good luck.
The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon also explores where Disney creators embraced their artistic license and changed things up for the story: Spine’s climate is cold and snowy, which is unlike much of Southeast Asia, though the artists tried to keep the multi-windowed high rooftops reminiscent of buildings found in Indonesia and Laos. Instead of ventilation for heat, Spine rooftops ventilate smoke from a fire, which creates a sense of, as Visual Development Artist James Finch describes it, “mammoth warm.”
Environment Modeler Virgilio John Aquino paints an inviting picture of his upbringing in the Philippines which gives us welcome, personal insight into what makes the creators tick:
“Where I grew up in the Philippines, most homes are decorated with a large wooden spoon and fork, a cultural staple that represents health and prosperity. Families invite friends and neighbors to all come together and share fellowship over a nice, warm meal.”
Against these rich cultural backdrops lies the five lands of Raya’s story and what they tell us about each of the clans: Fang is all about power, Spine is home to Kumandra’s fiercest warriors, Talon is a trading post and melting pot of merchants and travelers, Tail is the most remote land full of outliers and explorers, and Heart – Raya’s homeland – is the spiritual center of what once was the almighty Kumandra. While these characteristics were made clear in the film, the greater context gives fans a deeper, more meaningful understanding of Raya’s story – and of how hard Disney artists work!
The power of unity
Director Carlos Lopez Estrada reflects:
“Fundamentally, Raya and the Last Dragon is a film about the power of unity… It’s a story about a group of individuals from very different backgrounds and ideologies who learn that working together will allow them to accomplish something much greater than they ever could on their own.”
Disney achieves this time and time again with its animated films and Raya is no exception. Thanks to books like The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon, fans will graduate from simply a gushing love of Tuk Tuk (which remains intact, obviously) with an understanding and appreciation for the art of the film – technically, thematically and beyond.
With a more detailed contents guide than those in the series that I have reviewed in the past, The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon by Kalikolehua Hurley and Osnat Shurer, published by Chronicle Books, takes an especially deep dive into the background, characters, themes, worldbuilding and animation savvy behind the Walt Disney Animation Studio’s latest large-scale animation masterpiece.
Challenges and triumphs
I find it particularly engaging, as I did in this book, when the master creators at Disney talk about the challenges they faced and how they worked to overcome them. It is interesting to learn how sometimes those challenges add depth and dimension that may not have otherwise been discovered:
“Raya is, and has always been, a warrior. ‘Raya was forced to leave her home early in the story,” muses director Carlos Lopez Estrada, ‘and had to learn to raise herself in order to survive.’ But warrior characters can be hard to relate to,’ director Don Hall continues, ‘so we had to balance Raya’s tough exterior with many rich layers of personality.’”
Rich cultural inspiration at every turn
The book also explores the rich cultural inspiration behind the setting, story, costume and characters. For example, Sisu is said to be inspired by the naga which are powerful, mythical beings of Southeast Asia that are usually associated with bodies of water. The Talon lands – the trading crossroads of the five lands in the story (Heart, Tail, Spine, Fang and Talon) – are filled with stalls containing fresh produce and fantastical items, similar to those found throughout Southeast Asia, as are homes and businesses adorned with flowers, fruits and other offerings in the hope that spirits will congregate there and provide good luck.
The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon also explores where Disney creators embraced their artistic license and changed things up for the story: Spine’s climate is cold and snowy, which is unlike much of Southeast Asia, though the artists tried to keep the multi-windowed high rooftops reminiscent of buildings found in Indonesia and Laos. Instead of ventilation for heat, Spine rooftops ventilate smoke from a fire, which creates a sense of, as Visual Development Artist James Finch describes it, “mammoth warm.”
Environment Modeler Virgilio John Aquino paints an inviting picture of his upbringing in the Philippines which gives us welcome, personal insight into what makes the creators tick:
“Where I grew up in the Philippines, most homes are decorated with a large wooden spoon and fork, a cultural staple that represents health and prosperity. Families invite friends and neighbors to all come together and share fellowship over a nice, warm meal.”
Against these rich cultural backdrops lies the five lands of Raya’s story and what they tell us about each of the clans: Fang is all about power, Spine is home to Kumandra’s fiercest warriors, Talon is a trading post and melting pot of merchants and travelers, Tail is the most remote land full of outliers and explorers, and Heart – Raya’s homeland – is the spiritual center of what once was the almighty Kumandra. While these characteristics were made clear in the film, the greater context gives fans a deeper, more meaningful understanding of Raya’s story – and of how hard Disney artists work!
The power of unity
Director Carlos Lopez Estrada reflects:
“Fundamentally, Raya and the Last Dragon is a film about the power of unity… It’s a story about a group of individuals from very different backgrounds and ideologies who learn that working together will allow them to accomplish something much greater than they ever could on their own.”
Disney achieves this time and time again with its animated films and Raya is no exception. Thanks to books like The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon, fans will graduate from simply a gushing love of Tuk Tuk (which remains intact, obviously) with an understanding and appreciation for the art of the film – technically, thematically and beyond.
July 17, 2021
An absolutely GEM of a movie and easily overlooked because it was released during the pandemic. I couldn’t even begin to realize how much preparation and research went in to making this film culturally accurate. Truly amazing to see the whole crew’s vision come to life in the end. I wish every film had an intricate book like this !!
February 29, 2024
As a fan of the movie, it was really interesting learning more about the inspiration behind the film. However, I wish there had been more details on the individual art pieces show, which is why it's 4 stars instead of 5. Still highly recommend for anyone who's a fan of the movie or media inspired by South East Asia.
June 11, 2021
Animacinio filmo autoriai labai detaliai apžvelgė visus kūrybos užkulisius. Kiekvieną miestą, tautą, veikėjus, scenarijų ir kitus aspektus. Net ir smulkiais detales kaip rūbų raštai ar kameros objektyvai. Norisi antrą kartą pažiūrėti filmą atkreipiant dėmesį į detales!👌
June 15, 2021
Film je snad jeden z nejlepších, které jsem kdy mohla shlédnout, a kniha je to samé. Ucelený pohled na tvorbu jedinečného příběhu, jehož konec by rozbrečet snad každého, jak to u Disneyho už tak bývá.
August 26, 2021
Another fantastic Disney "Art Of" book. I haven't even seen this movie, yet I was still drawn in by the beautiful art and quotes from the people that made the movie. Made me want to watch the movie even more.
December 13, 2023
I won this book at Disney trivia and I really enjoyed it! Raya is one of the most visually beautiful Disney movies (and the characters are all beautiful!) and I loved seeing an insight into the process of creating it all.
March 14, 2021
A fantastic look into the art and making of the movie. Kinda wish there was more character concept art, and more art in general, but overall, it's a great coffee table book.
April 6, 2021
Loved this art book
May 19, 2021
From rough sketches to completed digital drawings enjoy the artwork from Raya and the Last Dragon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2021
eye brow slit and scar-faced Raya should have been canon!!!
October 15, 2021
Beautifully rendered imagery. The book also succeeds in diving into the cultures of Asia and Japan and Polynesia and reimagining them, centric to a common culture of dragons. Great book.
September 30, 2022
Wow, the concept art is amazing!
I really need to watch the movie.
I really need to watch the movie.
August 13, 2023
Can be one of the least informative art of books I have read so far. Everything explained too shallow.
August 18, 2021
I haven't read the book but I watched the movie.
Its good! Its fantasy.
Its good! Its fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews